Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-02-03
LANSING LETTER.
Resume Of Legislative Proceedings ant
Other News from the State Capital.

Other News from the State Cap1lei.
LANSING, Jan'y 81, 's7.
The events of the week in Lansing were
the seating of John Rairden as senator
from the first senatorial district and the
passage of the constitutional amendment
I'm the senate by the necessary two-thlrds
vote submitting the question OF prohibition
TO the people at the spring election. Inc
contest is now changed from the legisla-
ture to the people, as the governor has APP
proved the joint resolution.
Nothing else of Importance has transpir-
ed. Henry Chamberlain's protest against
Gov. Luce acting as governor because OF
his being a member OF the board or agri-
culture made only passing ripple on the
current OF events. But the report OF the
judiciary committee to whom it was re.
ferred left no doubt among the fair minded
that as soon as Mrs. Luce took the oath OF
Office as governor of Michigan his position
in the state board Of agriculture became
vacant.
A Joint resolution was passed in commit
tee OF the whole in the house calling for
constitutional amendment requiring that
after the year 1900 one must know now 10
read and write in the English language be-
fore he can vote. An exception is made
in the case of one who Is blind or armiess,
or has some other physical disability max
ing il impossible for him to read or write.
If it passes, as it ought to, IL will probably
be submitted at the general election in
November.
The bill prohibiting the employment OF
Pinkerton detectives as deputy sherlns
passed the house without dissenting
vote, but the one asking for the repeal OF
what is known as the Baker conspiracy
law met a snag in the shape of petition
from Mr.. +. A. Baker, its author in the
session of 1877, that caused the friends OF
the bill TO repeal TO lay it over until such
time as a complete canvass OF the house
demonstrated the certainty of its passage
The bill for purity of elections was in
troduced by a representative from De-
troit and may be so amended as to apply
only TO that city. The recent recounts
there have shown that IL one thing is
needed more than another it Is some
method whereby the honest desires OF duly
qualified electors can be expressed with
out fear or fraud. The provisions OF the
bill now pending calls for system very
similar to that which now prevails in
France and Canada.
The legislature will take recess OF IL
DAYS. from February 3 to February ID. On
the afternoon Of the 3rd the entire body
will proceed TO Ann Arbor, arriving there
at supper time and remaining all night
being entertained at the homes OF the lead
| ing citizens. Friday they will inspect the
different departments OF the university
| and Friday evening go to Detroit, Al
| guests of exGov. Alger, to attend the re
ceptlon given to Gov. Luce.
Senator Monroe has in preparation bill
to give to women qualified as citizens the
! right to vote at township, village or city
| elections for all municipal officers
The measure is advocated by tn,
woman's suffrage association of the state
| a.cnoia finn 10 anUnnad in organ
izing in all the cities and villages of Mich
gan, and some formidable petitions arr
expected.
The house has just passed bill to pro
vide for the organization OF log and tim
Der insurance companies.
The ed inst is the last bill day of the SEES
sion, so that from now until the time eS
pires there will be deluge of bills ever.
day. Those who have measures which the,
are anxious,to introduce, will file blanks,
and then fill them out after the time Ia
expired.
One Of the most important measure
now pending is the bill to punish murde
and rape by hanging. The provision is tina
the extreme penalty shall be exercised onl
on the recommendation OF the jury, thu
providing an adequate safeguard agains
the abuse ofothe hanging power. The 6i
passed the house two years ago and falle
only by one vote in the senate. Three G
those who favored the bill in the previou
house are now in the senate, and are e,
pected TO help il there. No close canvas
has yet been made.
Mr.. Oyiatt, the author OF the measur
argues in favor of his bill that during Tn
last two years % persons have been col
, fined in the state prison for life. or thes
2l were sentenced for murder and one fe
rape Besides these there have been
sentenced for granddaughter. There al
now Is murder trials pending. Mr.: Ovia'
thinks a few hangings would tend to r.
duce the murder list.